When do chicks settle down

[JesseTab]

.Just wondering when chicks settle down. We have had ours about 10 days and they where 3 to 5 days old when we got them they are 4 Ameraucanas the younger ones and 4 speckled Sussex. Every time we go to the brooder pen they all run to one Conner and peck at the wall trying to get away. And when we change the water or put food in they completely freak out. Have even tried giving them treats they will go to them after we get back and are quit funny chasing each other trying to steel the treats from each other. But so far they are terrified of us. Will they ever get use to us or is this what we can expect of them.

 

[Tuhmu]

Do you have to reach down into your brooder? Chicks always freak out when they see "THE HAND" coming at them from above, assuming it resembles a bird of prey coming after them. My brooder is about waist level and I have had much friendlier chicks. Otherwise they seem to calm down somewhat when they are out of the brooder setting and they can see you walking etc. Hope this helps!

Also - larger groups seem to always be more excitable, "monkey see monkey do" I have a group I hatched that WERE all nice and tame but then I went to runnings(local TSC type place) and broke down and got two easter eggers that corrupted all the rest. Back to square one with taming, lol.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

They'll get used to you. Though some birds never accept handling or aren't overly friendly. It helps to hand feed them treats and not hover over them. My brooder is raised so the chicks are more on my level, and it really seems to help a lot.
When you're something that everything wants to eat, that flightiness can save your life. I know you're not looking to do them any harm, but they don't. Just give them time and patience and try to move slowly when you're tending to them.

Good luck

 

[Tuhmu]

Talking to them a lot also helps, tell them anything, read the newspaper to them etc. This seems to help with all animals.

 

[JesseTab]

The brooder bottom is about waist high and it is about two foot deep. Also have a wire top on it as they seem to be able to jump out already.

 

[JSossong]

I found that daily hand feeding with treats helped a bit. I would smash up a hard boiled egg or cut up some wheat grass or herbs and they eventually all came running to my hand. Also the talking thing helps-now everyday when I go out to the coop I say "Hi chickens!" and I can hear them all run to the door, it's comical.

I think the breeds have a lot to do with it too. My first batch was 11 Red Sex Links- they were so chill and calm- my second batch was 12 Barred Rocks and they are so much more wild and skittish than the others. Right now the BRs are 4 weeks old and just now starting to calm down and get used to me.

Be patient and work with them everyday, they'll come around
Good luck!